OK All you Internet Search Experts

[debster812]

Yep, that's right Dan Murphy, I'm calling you (and anyone else who can help)

Got home from work today, and of course it's snowing again, so I left early, and got home while it was still light out. In the very back of the yard, at the edge of the wooded area there was this animal. Long, thin, short legs, no visible tail, kind of hopping over the snow. Dark Brown or Black, so it really stood out against the snow.

So, my question is, where do ferrets, weasels, etc live when they are in the wild? How would I find out? It looked like that type of animal, or even an otter? My DH does not beleive me, and thinks it was a feral cat (we have lots around) but it was too long and skinny, and no tail.

Anyone????? Can they live in New England? Do they live in New England?

 

[jipsy]

It's possible someone's ferret is loose and living in the wild, but ferrets have tails. So do weasels, unless for some reason it's tail was lost.

Go here:

www.enature.com

and do a search of mammals

 

[debster812]

Thanks jipsy--off to check it out now.

That would be so sad if it were someone's pet out there. It is cold and miserable here with lots of snow.

 

[Saffron]

Hmmm. I saw a ferret in a little patch of woods near my house. It was climbing in some shubbery. I thought I was seeing things, so I got my mom. I just assumed it had gotten lose from someone and was out having a ball in the woods. I wonder if they do live that far up north? For some reason I thought they were rare in the wild. But -- don't ferrets, weasels and otters all have long tails? Well, maybe not otters. But don't ferrets and weasels? I don't know, part of me thinks they do and part of me thinks they don't!

Now I want to know what it was. Go catch it Deb!

 

[Saffron]

Never mind what I said about the tails. Thank you Jipsy.

 

[debster812]

Hmmmm, we might have a winner with a River Otter

They also have tails, but I might not have noticed it.

Maggie, you come up and YOU catch it!!!!

 

[lilboo]

Did he look like this? Ferret:

Or this? Weasel:

Or...marmot:

BTW...
Where's Pam?

 

[debster812]

Ooooh, the Marmot might be a good choice too. Heck, I am going to be out in the yard tomorrow stalking this little wee beastie, I just know it.

It's the whole long tail thing that is throwing me. I could swear this beastie did not have a tail (or a real short one) so unless he/she lost it...

In any event, the digital camera has freshly charged batteries, and an empty Memory Stick, so if I see it again, I will post a pic.

 

[Saffron]

Do you live real close to a river?

I've never seen a marmot before! Cool!

I'll come get it Debbie! Let me know know when it stops snowing! The way it's been this winter, I guess I'll see you around May!

 

[kejoda]

Invite Pam for a visit then you wouldn't have to worry about it. I wouldn't let her near the kitchen though.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Looks like you got your answers here, Deb.


Hi Beccy!!!!!

 

[SuiteDisney]

Manx cats don't have tails... also some cats lose their tails due to accidents - it happened to one of my cats.

 

[Pam]

Yeah, sure - let's poke fun at poor little Pammy when she isn't here to defend herself!!

(Hi Beccy - long time no see!! )

DH says it probably was a pine marten or a mink. He thinks it was probably a mink (which was my first guess). Whatever you do , don't try to pet it - mink have very sharp teeth.

 

[airhead]

I live in the northeast corner of MA and what we have(just saw one yesterday!) are Fisher Cats . They have beautiful dark brown coats, pointy face,short legs and long bushy tail

 

[Towncrier]

Sounds like you might have seen SideshowBob's old coot.

 

[ennazus]

Originally posted by debster812
Thanks jipsy--off to check it out now.

That would be so sad if it were someone's pet out there. It is cold and miserable here with lots of snow.

A friend of ours lost their ferret outside.... in the snow.

 

[newmousecateer]

Invite Pam for a visit then you wouldn't have to worry about it. I wouldn't let her near the kitchen though.

LOL Beccy! Let's order Mickey D's on the ranch tonite.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Groundhogs (Marmota monax) have short tails, but they are usually less slender than the weasels.

http://photoweb.lodestone.org/photo/2313/en

The American Mink (Mustela vison) have longer tails, but not usually longer than half the body length. They are quite slim.

http://stockpix.com/stock/animals/mammals/smallmammals/2605.htm

Pine martens (Martes americana) also have longer tails, and are a bit stockier than the weasels.

http://www.sharpphoto.com/pm101.html

Fishers (Martes pennanti), which are not actually cats, have long busy tails. It is a rare treat to actually see these in the wild.

http://pws.prserv.net/rindge/fisher.html

Ted

 

[Saffron]

Oh! We have a ground hog that lives up on our hill! If it looks like a river otter, maybe it is a ground hog. Think Puxataunie (sp?) Phil.

Or, I bet it was a fisher! They have that humped over, jumpy kind of walk like weasels or ferrets!

Catch him, catch him, catch him! Oh, or her.

 

[lilboo]

Cuz I thought I saw her in one of these...

Beccy!!!

Smooches to Picked On Pam.